AFCON 2025: Osimhen Plays Down Yekini Record Talk, Focuses on Super Eagles’ Success

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has brushed aside the growing attention around the late Rashidi Yekini’s goal record, insisting that his main concern is Nigeria’s collective success rather than personal achievements.

Osimhen, who captained Nigeria to a 3–1 victory over Uganda on Tuesday, said he is not under pressure to overtake Yekini’s long-standing record of 37 international goals.

“To be honest, I never go to bed thinking about trying to equal or surpass the record,” the Galatasaray forward said.

The 27-year-old explained that his focus remains on contributing to the team in every possible way—through goals, assists and hard work—rather than chasing milestones.

According to him, records will come naturally in time, but not at the expense of team objectives or enjoyment of the game.

Osimhen currently has 32 goals for Nigeria, just five short of Yekini’s tally, and has scored once in three matches so far at the tournament.

Although he failed to find the net against Uganda, Osimhen led by example as Paul Onuachu and Raphael Onyedika, who scored twice, secured the win.

Nigeria ended Group C with a flawless record, claiming nine points from three matches to book a confident place in the Round of 16.

Osimhen stressed that leadership, teamwork and winning matches are more important to him than individual glory at this stage of his career, adding that his attention is firmly on guiding the Super Eagles to a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco.

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